training for my first 5k

[jnka825]

Hi All,

I have been running two to three times a week since October/November and then Cathe dvds on 3 times a week too, with the intention of running a 5k. Well, I am finally ready to get off the fence and am signing up for one in May. For training, I am running three times a week (4-6 miles a run). On my off days I want to do CATHE. I don't have that many dvds yet, but I just got Bootcamp and Muscle Endurance. I also have Supersets and Push/Pull and Basic Step and Body Fusion. My question is what should I do on my off days. Should I do BC only, to increase my stamina and possible speed or should I do BC 1-2 times a week and then another strength training dvd once a week?

Thoughts?
I appreciate your input!

Kristin

 

[Aquajock]

Hi All,

I have been running two to three times a week since October/November and then Cathe dvds on 3 times a week too, with the intention of running a 5k. Well, I am finally ready to get off the fence and am signing up for one in May. For training, I am running three times a week (4-6 miles a run). On my off days I want to do CATHE. I don't have that many dvds yet, but I just got Bootcamp and Muscle Endurance. I also have Supersets and Push/Pull and Basic Step and Body Fusion. My question is what should I do on my off days. Should I do BC only, to increase my stamina and possible speed or should I do BC 1-2 times a week and then another strength training dvd once a week?

Thoughts?
I appreciate your input!

Kristin

Hi, Kristin, and congratulations on moving forward with your goals!

Keep in mind I am a complete and total UNRUNNER, but I'll weigh in anyway:

My concern with your doing Bootcamp during your training is that the cardio intervals are quite high in impact, and that might overstress your legs (joints AND muscles) while you train and increase your mileage with your runs. I would suggest that you use Basic Step if you truly feel you need more cardio, and consider (warning - money-spending advice coming up!) purchasing Low Max and/or Low Impact Circuit again if you feel you need more cardio, as these are low-impact workouts that recruit the thigh and hip-joint-area muscles in a different way. Others may know and feel differently, but I would think that you want to preserve your cardiovascular and leg loads for your runs rather than your off days.

I would include at least one complete upper-body workout per week for one of your off days, or consider designing a split-set upper-body workout system in which you hit 1-2 upper body muscle groups each session, so that by the end of each week you've hit them all.

For lower body resistance work, I'll leave it to the running pros; they know a lot more about combining multi-K run training with leg resistance training than I do. But that's my take on it at first glance.

A-Jock

 

[ladubose]

I am interested in this too, anymore thoughts on combining running days with Cathe

 

[jolene_hajj]

Me too - starting to get into running - hate running, but know it's probably a good cardio workout to add into my routines...any advice out there?

 

[lioness]

I run 3 days a week and do Cathe and kettlebells in between. I usually run on Sundays, Wednesday and Fridays. On Tuesday and Thursdays I do circuit workouts with kettlebells or a Cathe workout. On Saturdays I usually do a traditional weight workout like Muscle Max or an upper body weight workout.

I listen to my body and I won't do a leg workout if I'm sore. Last week I did running drills at the track on Friday night, then did Muscle Max on Saturday and ran 6 miles on Sunday morning. My legs were a little sore on Sunday afternoon but nothing out of the ordinary.

As far as endurance and stamina, running is a totally different beast than doing other cardio workouts (at least it is for me). I need to stay consistent with my running even if I'm doing other things.

Running races is a blast. I did my first 5K in February of last year and got addicted. I've done 5 races so far this year and there are more to come. I'm not the fastest runner on the planet but I'm meeting lots of cool people and having fun.

Good Luck,

 

[hriacobacci]

While I don't consider myself a runner (don't really enjoy it), I do participate in 5K's. Until I started doing STS, I did weight training 3 times a week, then either ran and/or did Cathe's step DVDs. I never felt it was too much on my legs, in fact, maybe just the right conditioning? I will tell you this one piece of advice, never do a step workout the day of a race (I did an evening 5K and did step that morning, dumb). The week of a race, I do try to stop leg workouts about three days before, even doing a super light, more conditioning type of workout like Low Impact Circuit and don't do anything the day before. Not sure if this helps at all.

Heather

 

[marnapril]

Keep in mind I am a complete and total UNRUNNER, but I'll weigh in anyway

lol..

anyway, i am a runner and have been for a long time. the best way to improve your running is to RUN. improvements come with training: long distance, sprints, hillwork, intervals, and recovery runs. weight training will make your muscles stronger but won't make you a better runner or improve your times. i know many runners who do lower body strength training without weights to stay lean and improve muscle recovery (ie, on days where you don't run, you want your leg muscles to recover, not overtrain with weights). i personally run 4-5 days/week and strength train my legs once a week. the other days are upper body weights. you have to let your legs recover or your running will suffer.

only RUNNING improves RUNNING.

 

[RapidBreath]

exactly

lol..

anyway, i am a runner and have been for a long time. the best way to improve your running is to RUN. improvements come with training: long distance, sprints, hillwork, intervals, and recovery runs. weight training will make your muscles stronger but won't make you a better runner or improve your times. i know many runners who do lower body strength training without weights to stay lean and improve muscle recovery (ie, on days where you don't run, you want your leg muscles to recover, not overtrain with weights). i personally run 4-5 days/week and strength train my legs once a week. the other days are upper body weights. you have to let your legs recover or your running will suffer.

only RUNNING improves RUNNING.

I couldn't have put it better myself. Although, I'm a very new wogger, not a true runner yet. If you want to do a lower body workout I would not do it the day before a run with any type of hill. Be kind to your legs. If you aren't you could be sorry.

 

[jnka825]

Thanks for the input. I appreciate the input. I am definitely going to make adjustments to my workout routine.